First Ever Disneyland Trip Updated 10/13 - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
Nice start to the PTR and like the plans! That is so weird about making the ADRs as it seems so primitive in the way you can do it for WDW!
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
It's been ages since I was there as a teenager, my very first Disney park.
Yes, it's quite different, but I felt a particular thrill being where Walt Disney himself had walked and dreamed of an even bigger World than this smallish land of his.
As you say, seeing in person all those locations you'd only seen on the tv shows is indescribably magical.
You'll have a marvelous trip, I'm sure.
__________________
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
I think you'll love DLR. DH and I actually prefer DL to MK at WDW. Maybe because we spent so much time there when we lived in LA? Not sure, but it is a great park. We've only been to CA twice, as that opened after we moved to DC.
Looking forward to hearing all your plans!
That is so good to hear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhinohunter
Can't wait to read more. Just checking in for now.
Oh boy, do I hear you about how different planning for Disneyland is than planning for WDW, as I've been having that problem over the last couple of months and I hear you about not feeling the excitement you usually do. I still can't believe we miss each other by about four weeks.
I can't believe how we are again so close to being in the same place at the same time, but then not. One day!
Quote:
Originally Posted by benchley
Joining in. Can't wait to read this pre-trip report. We've never been, so will be very interested to read your planning and about your trip
I hope my planning doesn't turn out to be too chaotic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomhazel
We also loved Disneyland at least as much as WDW and certainly much more than DLP. I find it hard to compare with Orlando as they are both so different.
I hope you love The Grand. I can't wait to stay there next week.
For meals we really liked the storytellers cafe and we like the look of Ralph Brennan's. We also like the way DTD was situated between the parks and the hotels.
We've had the mindset all along that it's Disney, but not WDW. But it is great to finally hear some folks who know both parks and still enjoyed DLR. Storytellers Cafe and Ralph Brennan's are on our list.
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Great start! We're thinking of heading out west next summer and hopefully going to DL. Can't wait to hear more!
I hope I can provide some helpful information as this really has been so different for me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lindawdw
YAY - so excited that you started your PTR!!! I felt the same way about planning for DL 10 years ago as I kept reading Steve Birnbaum's DL book over and over again but I would imagine there is a lot of Disney websites with more information now! We're planning on staying at the Grand Californian too so I'm so looking forward to your thoughts on it!
Unfortunately, the DL PassPorter is a bit out of date, though a new one is in the works. So I've had to rely on other resources, especially touringplans.com. I have been excited at least from the beginning that we are staying at the Grand Floridian, but that was a bit interesting and I'll make an update of it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilsEagles08
I haven't been to DL since I was younger & my parents took me. I really don't remember too much about that trip except the castle & IASW.
Your upcoming trip definitely sounds a lot different than your WDW trips. I don't like the ADR process there at all. You have to wait a longer time to get excited about the trip especially since you can't book dining 180 days in advance. I can't wait to read more about your planning!!
I've also run into a snag today with the 60 day window, which I'll share in a bit. This late date just makes me a bit anxious.
I've been looking forward to this PTR, Cam! I never really had to do much planning for DLR because my trip in 2012 was with ABD. Naturally, I looked at maps and webstes and PassPorter obsessively for months before the trip, but I still got disoriented frequently when things weren't where they were "supposed" to be. It all looked so familiar, but so different at the same time. I absolutely loved DL, loved DCA much more than I expected to, and loved the short distances between parks, hotels and DTD. I'm looking forward to the planning process in this report!
Thanks, Laurie! It really is good to hear that folks have enjoyed the original park. We keep wondering what it will feel like to have the two parks so close. I think that will be so cool. I hadn't yet thought about feeling a little disoriented when attractions weren't where I would expect them. That will be interesting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mojjo
Can't wait to read this. DL is DH's request too. It's a few years out but I'm looking forward to hearing about your planning steps since it's so different.
Hopefully, I'll be passing along some good information.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roxie2006
I have just found you began this new journey. This one will be very exciting!!!!
Great start! It is my dream to visit DL someday. But it's been tough to try and convince my kids.
Sounds like us with Stefanie. Hope you do make it though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDave
Nice start to the PTR and like the plans! That is so weird about making the ADRs as it seems so primitive in the way you can do it for WDW!
It has been a little freaky waiting so close to arrival to make some big plans.
Quote:
Originally Posted by roaminggnome
I guess I am kinda like Stefanie, I have no real interest in DLR but I am looking forward to reading about your experiences there.
I guess our desire to go was instilled so long ago that even after WDW we still want to visit at least once. If we had the money, I'm sure we'd actually visit all the Disney parks.
YAY!!!! A new Cam/Luke PTR!!! You are off to a great start - and can't wait fore more!!!
Glad you are reading along!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Her Dotness
It's been ages since I was there as a teenager, my very first Disney park.
Yes, it's quite different, but I felt a particular thrill being where Walt Disney himself had walked and dreamed of an even bigger World than this smallish land of his.
As you say, seeing in person all those locations you'd only seen on the tv shows is indescribably magical.
You'll have a marvelous trip, I'm sure.
You've said exactly what Luke and I have been thinking as we've been planning. Walt actually was in this park. I'm sure my jaw will drop as I walk down Main Street. )
Quote:
Originally Posted by davishomeschool
Calf. Disney. I can't wait to hear how it measures to our beloved WDW.
I'm sure part of the TR will be how this or that compares to WDW. But I do want to enjoy this park for its own sake.
Yay, another DL PTR! I'm so hungry for action here on my home park! Hope the rest of your ADR plans go smooth. I'm planning a trip in Dec and it's frustrating that all my plans are already pretty much complete...I long for the complexity of WDW! But I know the trip will be great, and airfare to WDW isn't an option for me anyways.
Major advantage of DLR for me these days is the minimal transportation time. Such a huge perk!
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
That is so weird about making the ADRs as it seems so primitive in the way you can do it for WDW! 
I still can't believe we miss each other by about four weeks. 
Linear Mode
